Spring-wheel



J. E. STRIETELMTZIERn SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1913.

v Patented Aug 3, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. E. STRIETELMEIE R.

SPRING WHEEL.

' 'APPLrcATIoN FILED wows. 1913. 1,348,834. 1 Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

J. E. STRIETELMEIER.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPUCATION FILED NOV. 3. 1913.

Patented Aug. 3, 192%.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

alloznn o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. STRIETELMEIER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE IDEAL WHEELCOMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Application filed November 3. 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J 011x E. SrnIE'rEL- MEIER, a citizen of theUnitedstates, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring-VVhe'els, of which the following is a specification.

This invention deals with a resilient wheel and it is exemplified inseveral of its embodiments by drawings in which Figures 1, 2, 3, 1 and5, show a sectional. side elevation, a

radial section, and perspectives of a spoke element, a hub-wedge-block,and a hub-boltcover, respectively, all of one embodiment in whichsockets are swaged in the felly-band and the clamping member is devoidof sideflanges. Figs. 6 and 7 are circumferential and transversesections of a modification having similar characteristics. Figs. 8, 8and 9 show a fiangeless clamping member and a socket-block secured to arim element. Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 show a rim element recessed toreceive a socket-block and illustrates the details of this constructionwhich proposes the use of a clamping member having flanged sides. Figs.14:, 15, 16 and 17 are views of a similar construction using flangedclampingmembers, but another type of socket block. Figs. 18 and 19 are aside elevation, )artly in section, and a radial sec tion, respectively,of a portion of the wheel, on a larger scale.

The spokes of the wheel emerge from the hub in loop-like form, and eachloop-like spoke consists of two flat-metal spoke-elements 3, 3, whichare curved as shown to augment their normal resiliency and which bothconverge toward the rim and are both sesured thereto by a singlefastening arrangement which in its relation to the spoke-elements ismore especially the subject of this application. The construction at thehub need not here be elaboratedas it is described and claimed in mycopending application, No. 720,521, filed Sept. 1.6, 1912.

-This invention proposes a rim construction providing an equispacedseries of sockets of either the open-side type 11 or the closedside type11*, and which are adapted snugly to receive the flanged ends or feet'12of the spoke elements, all in coacting relation with a clamping member,and a draw-up leverage device for adjustably forcing the clamp-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Serial No. 798.905.

-clamp said spring-feet by pressure in the same.

The inner ring or felly-band of the rim may be an annular U-shapedchannel piece 10 in which the sockets 11, are indented at regularintervals in a radial direction, in this instance preserving theside-walls substantially in parallelism, but having the end walls 1inclined at an angle to a radius to converge somewhat toward the bottom2, so as to permit the spoke elements to-enter the sockets at an angleto the radius. This bottom 2 extends in a circumferential or tangentialdirection, and as shown by Figs. 1,2, 6 and 7. the bottom 2 of thesocket indented in the felly-band 10 receives support from the fellyproper (7) whereby it is braced against movement under the strains ofthe flexible spokes. This socket support may assume various forms. Thus,as indicated by Figs. 1 and 2, a filler-block 1 of wood or metal mayintervene between the bottom 2 of the socket and the adjacent face ofthe felly proper, or, as shown by Figs. 6 and 7, a counterpart pocket 9may be formed in the felly-proper 7 and its bottom 5 may be in flatwisecontact with the bottom 2 of the spokesocket so as to support the same.These pockets 9 may be formed at the inner periph eral face of the follyproper and this inner face or portion may extend in the form of acircumferential rib 6 of greater or lesser size or proportions, asindicated by Fig. 6. These pockets 9 may be very advantageously alsoutilized to contain the squared enlarged head of a bolt, as shown byFig. 6, or these pocket-s may be given the form of conical apertures 9shown by Fig. 1 and adapted to receive the conically upset ends of thebolts.

The spoke receiving sockets may also be provided by separate blockssecured to the inner periphery of the rim. The socketblock may be simpleU-shaped form as indicated by 15 in Fig. 16 having open sides and endwalls 17 providing converging inner spring-supporting faces 18 andmounted directly upon the rim-member and positioned as by pins 19. Orthe socket-block may be of the straddle or saddle type shown by Fig. 13or Fig. 10. In the case of the saddlesocket-block 20, the inner fellyband 10 may be of wood suitably mortised at intervals to receive thesaddle block and bring the side flanges Qlthereof in flush relation withthe 7 Preferably the end walls 2% and 26 of these blocks will provideinclined inner faces as before described. 7

' While the clamping member proposed by this invention may take variousmore or less modified forms, it in all instances is constructed andarranged'to exercise true clamping functions. That is to say, thisclamping member is positively and forcibly driven in a radial orspring-gripping direction by means of an appropriate cooperat ingelement, so as variably to increase the pressure on the spring-ends tocreate sufficient friction to prevent relativemovement between theparts. In the forms shown by Figs. 10, 11, 12, 1d, 15 and 16, theclamping member is U-shaped and has side flanges that close theopen-sides of the sockets with which they interfit, whereas in the otherillustrated forms, it has the more elementary form of a simple bar.

Thus, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,, 6, 7, 8 and 9 the clamping bar 13 is amember having a central axial perforation 27 adapted to receive theshank of the bolt for the drawup nut and having its ends 28 inclined inparallelism with the end walls of the socket. Preferably when seated inits normal clamping relation, it snugly fits between the side walls ofthe socket, and its ends fall somewhat short of the end walls of thesocket so as to leave room for the clamped intervening spoke elements.

The clampingemember 13" shown in Figs. 12 and 17 is for use with thesockets having the open sides and it provides side flanges llwhichnormally close thoseopen sides. Its inclined clamping ends 29 and 30respectively cooperate with the inclined endwalls 18 and 26 of therespective socketblocks,'in the same relation as described in theabove-paragraph. It is to be noted that the side flanges 1 1- of thisinvention in all forms of. the clamping member fall short of anyedge-abutment with any part of the rim, so that such member will have amounting permitting of radially outward adjustment or movement therebyenabling itto exercise clamping functions on the spring elements, asdistinguished from an inert clip or clevis having but a single posi tionand having its flanges in end-edge abutment with the felly or other partin such a way as to preclude a radially outward movement. Thus, the edge31 of the flange 14in Fig. 10 is spaced somewhat away from the adjacentshoulder 32 on the socket block 20 when'the parts are normally assembledso as to enable a clamping movement to take place. So also, the edge 33of the clamping member in Figs. 14: and 15-is normally interspaced fromthe adjacent portion 34: of the felly. This is of great importance, asotherwise the part 13' could not be brought into real clamping relationswith the springs and the construcion' would be ineffective frictionallyto hold and bind the springs against relative movement.

The springs elements 3 enter the sockets aforesaid andextend along andin fiat-wise contact with the inclined face of the end walls thereof,and then they follow a bend at an obtuse angle and extend half-wayacross the bottoms of the sockets in the form of end flanges or feet 12.As shown by Figs. 8, 10, 14: and 18, the extreme endedges are inedge-to-edge contact so as mutually to lock one another from twisting orlike displacement movements.

To enable a leverage action to be exerted so as to force the clampingmembers against the springs, bolts 35 or 36 extend radially from ahead-mounting on a rim element and pass through an aperturein the bottemof the socket, through the matching half- H apertures or recesses 3r inthe ed es 01 the spring feet, and then they project through apertures 27in the clamping member. Nuts 38 screw-threaded to the projectingportions of the bolts enable pressures to be forcibly applied in aradially-outward direction to cause said clamping members to beadjustably urged into positive clamping relation with the springs 3. Itmay be noted that bolts 35 hold the socket blocks place at the sametime.

Having thus revealed my invention I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States 1; A resilient wheel of the naturedisclosed combining a hub, a series of flat metal spokes arrangedconverselyin pairsto form two-part loop-like spokes radiating from saidhub; an annulus of U-shapedchannel iron forming the innercircumferential member of the rim; a tire; a ring-like memberintervening circumferentially betweenand attached to both said tire andsaid annulus; said annulus providing an equispaced series of widespoke-retaining sock ets open toward said hub and having their oppositeend-walls sloping outwardly toward one another, each of said socketsbeing provided with a wide fiat bottom sur-' face extending in acircumferential direction for a distance greater than-the depth of saidsockets; a forward spoke-element entering said socket and extendingalong the forward end-wall thereof and having a footlike extensionextending rearwardly along the bottom of said socket and terminatingnear the transverse center-line thereof; a complementary rearwardspoke-element also entering said socket and extending outwardly alongthe rearward end-wall thereof and also having a foot-like extensionextending forwardly along the b ottom of said socket int-o edge-to edgecontact with the first mentioned foot-like extension; a retaining memberinter-fitting in the crotch formed by said spoke-elements, and means forrestraining outward movement of said member.

2. A resilient wheel of the nature disclosed combining a hub, a seriesof flat metal spokes arranged conversely in pairs to form twopartloop-like spokes radiating from said hub; an annulus of U-shaped channeliron forming the inner circumferential member of the rim; a tire; aring-like member intervening circumferentially between and attached toboth said tire and said annulus; said annulus providing an equispacedseries of wide spoke-retaining sockets open toward said hub and havingtheir opposite end walls sloping outwardly toward one another, each, ofsaid sockets being provided with a wide fiat bottom surface extending ina circumferential direction at an equal obtuse angle with both of saidend-walls; a forward spoke-element entering said socket and extendingalong the forward end-wall thereof and having a foot-like extensionextending rearwardly along the bottom of said socket and terminatingnear the transverse center-line thereof a complementary rearwardspoke-element also entering said socket and extending outwardly alongthe rearward end-wall thereof and also having a foot-like extensionextending forwardly along the bottom of said socket into edge-to-edgecontact with the first-mentioned foot-like extension; a reta-iningmember interfitting in the crotch formed by said spoke-elements, andmeans for restraining outward movement of said member.

3. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub and a felly, flat metal spokes (3)arranged in pairs, the outer ends (12) of the spokes of each pair at thefelly being bent to lie alon the felly and to fit against'ea-ch other to100 the spokes against end movement or turning, means (11) forsupporting said spokes in their outer sides at the bends, a clampingmember for securing each pair of said inwardly bent ends to the fellyfitting against the inner side of said spokes at the bends,

and detachable means at the hub for rigidly securing each pair of spokesthereto.

' 4:. A resilient wheel of the nature disclosed combining a hub, aseries of flat metal spokes arranged conversely in pairs to formtwo-part loop-like spokes radiating from said hub; an annulus ofU-shaped channel iron forming the inner circumferential member of therim; a tire; a ring-like member intervening circumferentiallybetween andattached to both said tire and said annulus; said annulus providing anequispaced series of wide spoke-retaining sockets open toward said huband having their opposite end-walls sloping outwardly toward oneanother, each of said sockets being provided with a transversely widebottom surface; a spoke-element entering said socket and extending alongthe forward endwall thereof and having a foot-like extension extendingalong the bottom of said socket; a complementary spoke element alsoentering said socket and extending outwardly along the rearward end-wallthereof and also having a foot-like extension extending parallel withthe bottom of said socket and contacting with the first-mentionedfoot-like extension; a retaining member interfitting in the crotchformed by said spoke-elements, and means for restraining outwardmovement of said member.

5. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub and a felly, flat metal spokesarranged in outwardly bowed pairs, the outer ends (12) of the spokes ofeach pair at the felly being bent at an obtuse angle to lie flat alongthe felly, the ends of the bent portions (12) of each pair fittingagainst each other, means (11) on said felly for supporting said spokeson the outer sides extending inwardly toward the hub a short distancefrom the bend, a clamping member fitting flat against the bent ends andits ends bearing against the inner sides of said spokes at the bends,whereby the spokes will be held against end movement or turning, anddetachable means at the hub for rigidly securing each pair of spokesthereto.

6. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub and a felly, flat metal spokesarranged in pairs bowed apart in the plane of the wheel, the outer endportions of the spokes of each pair at the felly being bent at an obtuseangle to lie parallel with the felly, the endedges of the bent portionsof each pair being closely adjacent each other, a socket provided bysaid felly for receiving said spokeends and having its outer sidesextending inwardly toward the hub a short distance from the bend, aretaining member extending fiatwise at the inner sides of the bentend-portions and having its elongated edges at the inner sides of saidspokes at the bends, whereby the spokes will be confined to said socketand held thereby against end movement or turning, and detachable meansat the hub for securing each pair of spokes thereto.

7. A spring wheel of the class described comprising a hub, a felly, afelly plate positioned upon said felly and provided with a plurality ofsockets formed therein having their end walls diverging toward the hub,sectional spokes secured to said hub and terminating at the rim infeet-like flanges adapted to fit against the bottoms of said sockets,the spreading of said spokes beingconstrained by the diverging ends ofsaid sockets, a plate in said sockets and engagingthe feet of saidspokes, said plate being provided with angled ends adapted to iceoperatewith said sectional. spokes, said plates being provided with parallelflanges,.

comprising a hub, a felly, a substantially U- shaped channel platecircumscribed by said felly, said plate provided with a plurality ofspaced pockets indented therein, sectional spokes detachably carried bysaid hub and having their outer ends fitted in said pockets,

retaining members, for the outer ends of said sectional springispokesfitted in said pockets for securely holding the end of the spokes inengagement with said felly plate, and means for holding said retainingmema ainst bers in said pockets and in engagement with saidspokesandfelly plate.

9. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub and afelly, flat rnetal spokesarranged in pairs outwardly bowed from'each other, the telly havingseparated sockets (11) on its inner. face each for receiving the ends ofthe pair of spokes, the end Walls of said sockets extending across saidfelly and being 'atan angle to the flat bottom wall of said socket, theouter, ends of the spokes converging as they'enter said sockets withtheir outer sides resting against said end walls and being bent (12) tolie along said felly in said sockets (11) and to fit against each otherto lock the spokes against end movement or turning, and a clampingmember fitting between said converging ends within said sockets forholding said bent ends (12) and for supporting said pair of spokes onthe inner side.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN STRIETELMEIER.

Witnesses :v

OLIVER B. KAIsnn, LoUIsE A. BECK.

